Storm Surge/Tide — Coastal Brunswick, North Carolina

2022-09-30 · Coastal Brunswick, North Carolina

Event narrative

Storm surge flooding was most pronounced along the western coastal areas of the county. Sunset Blvd., the only access to Sunset Beach across the marsh, was closed due to flooding during the peak of the event. Significant beach erosion occurred in Sunset Beach as well. An NWS Storm Survey found several garage doors pushed in from the surge, as well as damage to a number of private docks on the sound side of the island. Water also rose onto streets in Ocean Isle Beach with 1 to 2 feet of inundation entering garages and first floors of some beach front homes. Oak Island was mainly affected by minor coastal flooding with water entering dune access points a a couple locations.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Ian made landfall along the west coast of Florida on September 28, 2022, then moved across the Florida peninsula and exited off the east coast of Florida on September 29, 2022. Ian then moved north and made a second landfall near Georgetown, SC on September 30, 2022. Ian resulted in a variety of impacts across southeast North Carolina from strong winds to storm surge and an isolated tornado.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1056481. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.